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Committee of the Whole on police accountability continued to May 16 after public commenters urge tighter agenda and participation from DA
Summary
Supervisors moved to continue a Committee of the Whole hearing that will review reports and recommendations on policing and accountability to May 16; advocates urged a focused agenda, participation by the district attorney, and expedited MOU and staffing updates for independent investigators.
The board, sitting as a Committee of the Whole, agreed to continue a public hearing on police transparency, accountability and related reports to May 16, 2017, after supervisors and members of the public urged a more tightly defined agenda and the participation of key officials including the District Attorney.
Scope of the item: The hearing was convened to receive updates and final reports from the Blue Ribbon Panel on transfer transparency, the Department of Justice initial assessment, the President's Task Force on 21st-Century Policing, and the civil grand jury. The board requested reports from the police department, the Department of Human Resources, the Department of Police Accountability, and the Police Commission.
Board action: Supervisor Malia Cohen moved to continue the item to allow staff and the police department to streamline presentations and avoid an overly long hearing; because of scheduling conflicts on May 9 the board set the new date for May 16. Cohen said the goal was a concise hearing with tighter data presentation from the SFPD and related staff. The motion was seconded by Supervisor Ronen and carried without objection.
Public comment and concerns: Multiple public speakers and advocacy groups urged the board to take the matter seriously and to provide advance notice and a focused agenda for the May 16 session. San Franciscans for Police Accountability asked that the District Attorney attend the committee of the whole because the board had appropriated funds for an independent investigation unit in the DA's office and advocates said an MOU with SFPD to clarify lines of authority was still unresolved. Commenters also criticized the state of the Police Commission and urged rapid action on appointments and independent oversight staffing.
Why it matters: Advocates and supervisors framed the continued hearing as an opportunity to monitor progress implementing recommendations from multiple oversight reviews and to ensure the city follows through on staffing, MOU negotiations, and transparency measures. Speakers said oversight gaps and slow administrative steps were undermining public trust.
Next steps: The Committee of the Whole will reconvene on May 16, with supervisors asking for a concise, publicized agenda and for the police department and other agencies to present streamlined data. Advocates requested that the District Attorney and department leadership be included to clarify staffing and investigative authority matters.
Ending: The board continued the item to preserve momentum on oversight work while seeking a tighter, more efficient hearing to accommodate presenters and the public.
